Julia Ann (Bogdanovich) Manley, 91, a lifelong resident of Montesano, Washington, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2025, in Walla Walla, Washington. A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church in Montesano, Washington on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service and reception at the church hall will follow.
Julia Ann was born on April 2,1934 in Aberdeen, Washington to Marion and Julia (Zawislak) Bogdanovich. After graduating from Montesano High School she attended Grays Harbor College, majoring in Secretarial Science and went to work for ITT Rayonier Pulp & Paper in Hoquiam. Saving up her money, she was able to purchase a brand-new baby blue Chevrolet which may have attracted the attention of her future husband Marvin Manley. Marvin and Julia Ann were married on June 30, 1956 in Montesano. Marvin enlisted in the Army and the newlyweds moved to Barstow, California where she worked in the office of the Marine Corps Supply Center as a Civil Service employee. In Barstow, Callifornia they had their first child, Craig. The young family returned to Montesano in 1959, where Julia Ann was a ‘stay-at-home’ mom for 13 years. Their family soon grew with the addition of Linda and Steve. In 1973, Julia Ann returned to work, being employed by Grays Harbor County, Department of Public Services. She retired in 1994 after working for Grays Harbor County for 21 years.
It was said that Julia Ann was strategically placed at the reception desk in the Public Works department because of her personality, not to mention her secretarial skills. Grays Harbor residents, disgruntled by a road or bridge issue or by people dumping trash on county land, had to first pass the desk of Julia Ann before they could vent their anger at other department staff. Most would be quickly disarmed by her warm spirit, empathy and ability to listen. With her gift for conversation, many people probably forgot the original purpose of their visit. As a mother and wife with an active family, Julia was most interested in meeting people. On a ski trip, she would post herself in the lodge and pick up a conversation with whomever would give her the time of day. On the drive back from such an outing the conversation had less to do with her family’s day than her retelling of the interesting people she had met. A recital that was often prolonged by her required stop for coffee and pie at her favorite diner.
Julia Ann was an active member of her community. In high school she was an honor student, cheerleader, member of the student council and wrote for both the paper and yearbook. She also worked actively as a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Montesano, the Montesano High School Booster Club and many other groups. Most important of all to Julia Ann was her family, her brothers and sister, all her nieces and nephews, their children and her dear girlfriends.
Julia Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Manley; her parents Marion and Julia Bogdanovich; brother’s Stanley Bogdanovich, Marion (Jr) Bogdanovich and Louise Bogdanovich; and sister Lucy (Bogdanovich) Nelson.
She is survived by her brother-in-law Robert Manley; her sister-in-law Barbara Bogdanovich; her children Craig Manley and his wife Lynn (Dillard) of Walla Walla, Washington; Linda and her husband Ken Coon of Montesano, Washington; and Steve and Caroline Manley of Jackson, Wyoming. She is also survived by her grandchildren Tessa, Joshua, Tyler, Mathew, Natasha, Annalise and Teague. At the time of her passing she had eight great-grandchildren.
With Julia Ann’s grace, humor and elegance, heaven will be a better place. It might also be a little more chatty.
